Structure for removing ice from a roadway



Aug. 2, 1955 R. D. HANSEN 2,714,506 STRUCTURE FOR REMOVING ICE FROM A ROADWAY Filed March 4, 1953 2 2 Sheets-Sheet l g- 2, 1955 R. D. HANSEN STRUCTURE FOR REMOVING ICE FROM A ROADWAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1953 f 5 u 55555555555555- 55555555555555;- 55555555555555. 55555555555555. 55555555555555 55555555555555. 55555555555555 E5555555555555 5555555555552 5555555555555 55555:.55= a. E2 ==5 5 N 5 5555 5555555555555? 5555552 .W 555555 555555555555555555555555= 555555555555555555555555 555555555555555555555555 555555555555555555555555 5mmi55555555555555555555= 5- .555555555555555555555. 5555555555555555555555555.

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United States Patent STRUCTURE FOR REMOVING ICE FROM A ROADWAY Ralph D. Hansen, Sioux Falls, 5. Dak. Application March 4, 1953, Serial No. 340,205 2 Claims. Cl. 262-19) An object of the invention is to provide an ice removing structure which is capable of ready attachment to a truck for propulsion thereof, in advance of the truck and which embodies a multiplicity of ice engageable metallic plates yieldably supported on the periphery of a roller embodied in the structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice removing structure which includes a rubber-1ike roller having the opposite ends thereof rotatably supported in a frame and wherein the said roller is capable of ready fiexure intermediate the said rotatably supported ends for conformity with an ice covered road surface and the said roller having a multiplicity of ice engaging plates yieldably supported thereon.

A further and more general object of the invention is to provide an ice removing structure which is simple in construction and which is endowed with a capacity to loosen and remove ice from the entire road surface traversed by the structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a top plan View of the improved ice removing structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and showing the plate supporting apron broken away intermediate the opposite ends of the apron supporting roller.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view as observed in the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the apron and the corresponding ice removing plates connected thereto.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the ice removing plates.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the roller which is broken away and in section adjacent the axis thereof for clearly showing the mounting means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a broken top plan View of a pair of roller engageable aprons with the ice removing plates secured thereto.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the ice removing structure will be seen to comprise a frame F, a roller R, one or more aprons A, and a multiplicity of ice engageable metallic plates P secured to the apron or aprons.

The frame F is of generally rectangular form and includes a pair of side bars 10, an end bar 11 and a pair of intersecting reinforcing bars 12 having their ends rigidly secured to the side bars 10 and the end bar 11.

The end bar 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 13 for receiving hinged eye bolts to attach the frame to the forward end of a truck and with the frame and roller having capacity for pivotal movement about aligned axes of the hinged eye bolts whereby the roller may be raised and lowered by power means on the truck.

The roller R is constructed of yieldable material and preferably rubber as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. While the roller is shown as being of rubber only, throughout the entire body thereof, canvas or cord reinforcement similar to that in use in tire constructions may be employed.

The roller R comprises a relatively large cylindrical body 14 and whose opposite ends are of greater diameter than the main body in the provision of shoulders 15 for a purpose later to appear.

A pair of metallic stub shafts or axles 16 are molded in the opposite ends of the body 14 with their axes in the axisof the roller. The shafts 16 have the major portions thereof molded within the rubber body 14 and have minor portions 17 projecting axially from the opposite ends of the roller and which ends are rotatably journalled in the forward free ends of the frame side arms M as is indicated in Fig. 1.

A flexible metallic cable 18 is molded within the roller body 1.4 axially thereof and is disposed between the inner ends of shafts 16 and the cable has its opposite ends suitably secured to the shafts as by extension thereof through apertures in the shafts, together with welding if necessary.

With the above construction the roller R is supported by the frame F for rotation along an ice covered roadway while the major portion of the roller is capable of flexing transversely of its axis for accurate conformity with irregularities in the roadway and the cable 18 restrains the axles 16 against outward axial movement.

The roller R is adapted for the removable disposition of an apron about its periphery and while a single apron may be provided, it is preferable to employ two aprons A as illustrated in Fig. 6. The aprons A are relatively thick and are preferably constructed of molded rubber having reinforcing cords C adjacent the plate supporting surface thereof.

As indicated in the broken plan view of Fig. 6, the aprons A are initially of rectangular form and are capable of being readily wound about the roller R with their opposed edges abutting shoulders 15, as indicated in Fig. 2. While the aprons are of substantial thickness, their yieldable character will permit the opposite ends to abut in a radial plane and such opposite ends may be secured together by any suitable means such as staples, hooks and eyes or the like.

The metallic plates P are of L-form in edge view as clearly indicated in Fig. 4 and each plate comprises an apron engageable base portion 19 and an ice engageable portion 20 projecting from one edge of the base portion in right angular relation thereto, and the portion 20 is preferably of about twice the dimension of portion 1? transversely of their line of junction.

While the plates may be formed of any desired metal it is nevertheless essential that the ice engaging portions 20 be hardened in order to retain a cutting edge.

The base portions 19 of the plates P are provided with one or more apertures 21 for the reception of pins or bolts 22 which extend through the aprons A and thereby secure the plates thereto as is clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The plates P are disposed in spaced relation on the aprons A in order that the aprons with the plates mounted thereon will be free to flex or undulate in keeping with the flexing action of the roller R while transversing uneven ice covered terrain.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with a single specific structural embodiment thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. A structure for removing ice from a roadway comprising a truck attachable frame, an elongated rubber roller having stub shafts molded in each end of said roller axially thereof, the other .ends of said stub shafts being rotatably engageable with said frame, a cushion pad removably surrounding the rubber roller, and a multiplicity of=plates each including a base portion secured to the pad, and a road engageable portion projecting radially outwardly of theroller.

2. A structure for removing ice from a roadway comprising a truck attachable frame, an elongated rubber rollerhaving stub shafts molded in each end of said roller axially thereof, the other ends of said stub shafts being rotatably engageable with said'frarne, a metallic cable extending axially within said roller connecting-the inner ends of said stub shafts, a cushion pad removably surrounding the rubber roller, and a multiplicity of plates each including a base'portion secured to the pad,

and a road engageable portion projecting radially outwardlyof the roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dexter May 16, 1911 Rasrnesen, Jr. Dec. 12, 1911 Magnusson Aug. 11, 1925 Mancuso et a1. Sept. 26, 1933 Swan et a1. Jan. 21, 1936 Royer Apr. 25, 1939 Miller June 10, 1941 Beck May 28, 1946 Lomrnen Aug. 5, 1952 

